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Mark Chapter 16

New Testament Gospel 20 Verses

What is Mark 16 about?

The fast-paced Gospel of action — Jesus as the Suffering Servant who came not to be served but to give his life as a ransom. The complete chapter text below provides the immediate literary context for study.

Text — American Standard Version (1901)

American Standard Version (1901) — public domain. For original Hebrew/Greek interlinear text, open in BibleWord.ai.
1And when the sabbath was past, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the [mother] of James, and Salome, bought spices, that they might come and anoint him.
2And very early on the first day of the week, they come to the tomb when the sun was risen.
3And they were saying among themselves, Who shall roll us away the stone from the door of the tomb?
4and looking up, they see that the stone is rolled back: for it was exceeding great.
5And entering into the tomb, they saw a young man sitting on the right side, arrayed in a white robe; and they were amazed.
6And he saith unto them, Be not amazed: ye seek Jesus, the Nazarene, who hath been crucified: he is risen; he is not here: behold, the place where they laid him!
7But go, tell his disciples and Peter, He goeth before you into Galilee: there shall ye see him, as he said unto you.
8And they went out, and fled from the tomb; for trembling and astonishment had come upon them: and they said nothing to any one; for they were afraid.
9Now when he was risen early on the first day of the week, he appeared first to Mary Magdalene, from whom he had cast out seven demons.
10She went and told them that had been with him, as they mourned and wept.
11And they, when they heard that he was alive, and had been seen of her, disbelieved.
12And after these things he was manifested in another form unto two of them, as they walked, on their way into the country.
13And they went away and told it unto the rest: neither believed they them.
14And afterward he was manifested unto the eleven themselves as they sat at meat; and he upbraided them with their unbelief and hardness of heart, because they believed not them that had seen him after he was risen.
15And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to the whole creation.
16He that believeth and is baptized shall be saved; but he that disbelieveth shall be condemned.
17And these signs shall accompany them that believe: in my name shall they cast out demons; they shall speak with new tongues;
18they shall take up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it shall in no wise hurt them; they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover.
19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken unto them, was received up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God.
20And they went forth, and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them, and confirming the word by the signs that followed. Amen.
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What do historical commentaries say about this chapter?

John Gill's Exposition
John Gill (1697–1771) · Exposition of the Old and New Testament · on verse 1
“And when the sabbath was past, etc..] “In the end of it”, as Matthew says, (<402801>Matthew 28:1); not “when it was the sabbath”, as the Arabic version reads; for it was not lawful to buy spices, and anoint with on the sabbath day; (see Gill on “<402801>Matthew 28:1”). Mary Magdalene, and Mary, [the mother of James,] and Salome; who was the wife of Zebedee, and the mother of the other James and John: had bought sweet spices; or “brought”, as the Vulgate Latin, and all the Oriental versions read; for though the women might have bought some on the preparation day, the day before the sabbath, the same evening that…”
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Jamieson, Fausset & Brown
Robert Jamieson, A. R. Fausset & David Brown · Commentary Critical and Explanatory on the Whole Bible · on verse 2
“very early in the morning--(See on Mat 28:1). the first day of the week, they came unto the sepulchre at the rising of the sun--not quite literally, but "at earliest dawn"; according to a way of speaking not uncommon, and occurring sometimes in the Old Testament. Thus our Lord rose on the third day; having lain in the grave part of Friday, the whole of Saturday, and part of the following First day.”
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Barnes' Notes
Albert Barnes (1798–1870) · Notes on the Whole Bible · on verse 1
“See this passage explained in the notes at Matthew 28:1-8. Mark 16:1 Sweet spices - “Aromatics.” Substances used in embalming. The idea of sweetness is not, however, implied in the original. Many of the substances used for embalming were “bitter” - as, for example, myrrh - and none of them, perhaps, could properly be called “sweet.” The word “spices” expresses all that there is in the original. Anoint him - Embalm him, or apply these spices to his body to keep it from putrefaction. This is proof that they did not suppose he would rise again; and the fact that they did not “expect” he would rise, gives more…”
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Wesley's Explanatory Notes
John Wesley (1703–1791) · Explanatory Notes upon the New Testament and Old Testament notes · on verse 1
“Mat 28:1; Luk 24:1; Joh 20:1. Mark 16:2”
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Tyndale Open Study Notes
Tyndale House Publishers · Tyndale Open Study Notes · on verse 1
“16:1 At the end of the Sabbath at sunset, the shops reopened and the women were able to buy burial spices to anoint Jesus’ body (16:1). Their purpose was not to embalm the body, but to alleviate the stench that a decaying body would create. • The women were clearly not anticipating Jesus’ resurrection. Even the empty tomb would fail to convince them that Jesus had been raised from the dead (John 20:2, 11-15).”
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Treasury of Scriptural Knowledge
R. A. Torrey and contributors · The Treasury of Scripture Knowledge · on verse 1
“when: Mar 15:42; Mat 28:1-10; Luk 23:54, Luk 23:56, Luk 24:1-12; Joh 19:31, Joh 20:1-10 Mary Magdalene: Mar 15:40, Mar 15:47; Luk 24:10; Joh 19:25 sweet: Mar 14:3, Mar 14:8; Ch2 16:14; Joh 19:40 Mark 16:2”
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